Icon of Christ, the True Vine
The icon of Christ, the True Vine is the festal icon of our Future Church Home Project. It is in our narthex for veneration and will accompany us into our new home. The basis for the depiction of Christ in the center of a growing vine is from John 15:1, where Christ states, “I am the true vine…” We encourage you to look over this passage and consider its implications. May Christ continue to guide us as we continue to work for His glory.
Capital Campaign Commitments
Honoring our Faith … Building for the Future
The Capital Campaign Committee has set a three-year goal to raise $1.5 million for the purchase of property in Northern Colorado that will provide adequate facilities for the future home of Saint Spyridon. Thank you to all who have returned your Capital Campaign Commitment form. If you have not yet made your commitment to the campaign, we ask that you prayerfully and sincerely consider your commitment and return your form as soon as possible. Thank you for your support of this exciting and vital project of our parish community. Please check the display boards in Fellowship Hall for updated information on the Capital Campaign.
Future Church Home Property Search
Last fall, the Parish Council and chairpersons of the Future Church Home Project committees felt that our parishioners’ potential donations would fall short of the funding needed to build on vacant property in the near future. They recommended the alternative of searching for a larger building that has enough space to accommodate our current needs and growth in the near future. This building might be an existing church or a commercial building, perhaps with enough land to one day build a church that honors our Orthodox theology.
Specifically, the criteria for the property search are:
1. Is the property within or close to the current search grid?
2. Is the property within the budget of the community (range 1 to 1.5 million dollars)?
3. Does the property meet the following space requirements of the community and its intermediate space needs?
- Sanctuary space (seating for 250+)
- Fellowship space (approximately 200 people).
- Classroom Space (5 classrooms, 15 students per classroom)
- Office and meeting space (no less than one office with small admin area)
- Adequate parking and outdoor gathering space
- Good condition
4. Can the parish recuperate its investment and will the property be attractive to another buyer?
5. Does the purchase of this property allow for the community to purchase vacant land or make other necessary financial decisions surrounding our future permanent site? Or, does the property have sufficient acreage to be the future permanent site?
Property Search / Due Diligence Committee
The Parish Assembly on April 21 voted in favor of a motion to reorganize the Property Search / Due Diligence Committee with the following provisions:
1. Membership will consist of 5-6 parishioners who have prior experience in property analysis and due diligence. Interested parishioners can contact Dn. Mark, the project coordinator who serves on this committee. Our architect, Tim Politis, will serve as a consultant to the committee. The committee may need to engage professional consultants as necessary. Andy Stathopulos will serve as the legal consultant.
2. The committee will aggressively analyze the suitability of a potential property prior to entering into a contingent contract with the seller. The due diligence assessment of the property would include civil, structural, and architectural analyses, as well as gathering information from authorities having jurisdiction of the property. The objective of the team is to provide a recommendation to the Parish Council (within 5-6 weeks) whether to pursue the property.
3. The Committee will have flexibility to move effectively and efficiently. The Parish Council will delegate a spending authority limited to $10,000 per property and $20,000 in total to contract whatever professional help may be needed to complete the assessment of the property.
It should be noted that the actual purchase of any property is contingent on a two-thirds vote in favor by the Parish Assembly and approval of His Eminence Metropolitan Isaiah of Denver.
Some History…
In the fall of 2001, a handful of dedicated families assumed the task of organizing a new parish of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, Metropolis of Denver in northern Colorado. With Father Peter Harrison from Cheyenne as its interim priest, services were held bi-weekly in three temporary locations in Fort Collins in the first few years. In 2004, the parish had a membership of around 40 families. It found the historic church at 745 E. 5th Street in Loveland available and voted to purchase it for their next temporary facility. In 2007, Father Evan Armatas was officially assigned to be the full-time priest for the parish of Saint Spyridon. Under his leadership, numerous ministries were formed, an addition was built to create classroom and office space, and the congregation continued to grow. New members from Fort Collins, Greeley, and Loveland, as well as from communities north of Denver, became active in the life of the Church.
Father Evan and the Parish Council recognized the need to plan for the community’s long-term growth and formed a planning committee comprised of many parishioners that worked all through 2009. The Parish Council accepted the committee’s advice and presented a five-year facility plan recommendation to the parish in September 2010. Parishioners participated in Town Hall meetings to discuss it and give their input. In February 2011, the parish voted by an 84 percent majority to search for real property for the future home of Saint Spyridon Church. In March 2011, the Parish Council formed a search committee to locate viable properties for the future home of Saint Spyridon. With the community presently at 90 stewarding families, parishioners are eager to move to a permanent location that will provide for the parish’s current ministries (Church School, Bible Study, Youth, Music, Philanthropy, Book Store, Library, Missions) and for the parish’s future.
Committees & Chairpersons
You are invited to give your time and talents for work on our project’s committees. Current committees are listed below with their chairpersons.
- Communications – George
- Property Search / Due Diligence – TBD
- Design (Architecture / Interiors / Landscape) – Fr. Evan
- Legal – Kandace
- Financial Planning – Matthew and Jason
- Capital Campaign – Georgia, Nancy, and Katerina
Project Coordinators
Dn. Mark and Diana serve as the Future Church Home project coordinators and oversee all activities related to the project. Please contact them if you have any questions or would like to help in any way.
